VENDING MACHINE

Abstract: A vending machine for holding and dispensing products (39), such as cans and bottles comprises a cabinet (12) defining a dispensed product access area (22) accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, one or more lifting mechanisms (33) located in the cabinet at the back, one or more product holding magazines (32) located in the cabinet at the front and arranged to supply individual products under gravitational force to the lifting mechanism(s), the or each lifting mechanism being arranged to lift products from adjacent the base of the magazine to a position above the magazine from where individual products are dispensed via a chute (34) to the dispensed product access area. The cabinet has its top (14) at table top height and the access area is in the top third of the height of the cabinet. The or each lifting mechanism comprises a continuous flexible belt (43) mounted between a pair of rollers (40, 41) located substantially one above the other and a plurality of carriers (46) pivotally mounted on the belt at spaced positions therealong. The carriers during the downward movement of the belt on which they are mounted are arranged to assume a substantially vertical position alongside the belt, and during the upward movement of the belt extend outwardly from the belt.

Description: VENDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a vending machine and mo particularly to a vending machine for dispensing products such cans and bottles, for example cans or bottles containing drink The invention extends to lifting mechanisms for use in vendi machines. Conventional vending machines tend to dispense the products from adjacent the base of the machine, with the moveme of the products from the storage position to the dispensi position being solely under gravitational force, and t dispensing position being adjacent the floor. This is n particularly convenient for the customer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide vending machine which will dispense the products from a positi above their storage position. A considerable number of in-cup vending machine particularly those for selling hot drinks, are intended to sta on a table top. Another object of the present invention, its preferred form, is to provide a vending machine, preferab for dispensing cold cans or bottles, having a top at table heig so that a conventional in-cup vending machine can be supported its top. Accordingly the present invention provides a vendi machine for holding and dispensing products, such as cans a bottles comprising a cabinet defining a dispensed product acce area accessible from the exterior of the cabinet, one or mo lifting mechanisms located in the cabinet, one or more produ holding magazines located in the cabinet and arranged to supp individual products under gravitational force to the lifti mechanism(s), the or each lifting mechanism being arranged lift produces from adjacent the base of the magazine to position above the magazine from where individual products are dispensed to the dispensed product access area. Preferably the lifting mechanism is adjacent the back of the cabinet, the dispensed product access area is at the front of the cabinet and a dispensing chute extends between the top of th lifting mechanism and the dispensed product access area, abov the magazine, along which chute products can roll unde gravitational force. Preferably the lifting mechanism comprises a continuous flexible belt mounted between a pair of rollers locate substantially one above the other and the belt carries plurality of carriers mounted on the belt at spaced position therealong, each carrier being pivotable relative to the belt. The invention extends to a lifting mechanism per se for use in vending machine. With advantage the carriers are arranged to maintain substantially horizontal orientation extending outwardly from th belt during their upward travel with the belt and a substantiall vertical orientation flat against the belt during their downwar travel with the belt. During the majority of the upward trave each carrier is tilted slightly from the horizontal so that it outer end is higher than its inner end adjacent the belt and product thereon therefore tends to roll towards the belt. As th carrier approaches the top of the belt the orientation of th carrier changes so that its outer end tips slightly downwardly s that a product rolls off the carrier. As it passes over the to roller the carrier is horizontal so that it does not projec substantially above its belt mounting. Preferably the rollers on which the belt is mounte extend between two spaced upright support members and eac carrier includes a cam member which in its upward path is guide in a guide channel, the cam and guide channel serving to locat the carrier at the required orientations. Preferably*there is cam and guide channel at each side of the carriers; wit advantage these or other surfaces contacted by the cans in thei upward paths are made of low friction material, for exampl polyethylene. SUBSTmJT€SHEET(RULE26) Preferably the vending machine is for dispensing col cans or bottles and includes a cooler unit in the cabinet Preferably the cooler unit is located beneath the magazine an includes a fan for circulating cold air from the cooler unit u through the lifting mechanism and down through the magazine bac to the cooler unit. The cooler unit is insulated from the col part of the cabinet, and the cold part provided with seals. Preferably the cabinet is substantially rectangula sectioned and has a top at normal table height for example 750 t 950 millimeters, with the dispensed product access area at height of at least two-thirds of the height of the cabinet. There will normally be a plurality of magazines arrange side by side, preferably in the front part of the cabinet, eac associated with its own lifting mechanism, preferably at'the bac part of the cabinet, and each for dispensing one selection of ca or bottle. Conventional means will be provided for selecting an paying for the products to be dispensed. The cabinet is normally closed to prevent access to th products in the magazines but preferably the front comprises door which can be removed or hinged open to provide access to th magazines for refilling. With advantage the cooler unit magazines and the lifting mechanisms can be slid forward out o the open front of the cabinet to an accessible position fo maintenance. Preferably each lifting mechanism is a plug in uni which can be removed as a whole after disconnecting electrica connections and a new unit plugged in. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of vending machine, in accordance with t invention, will now be described, by way of example only, wi reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of which:- Figure 1 is a side sectional view of the vending machin Figure 2 is a front view of the cabinet indicating i broken line a plurality of magazines and lifting mechanis within the machine, Figure 3 is a front view of one lifting mechanism, Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure showing a lifting mechanism, Figure 5 is a front view of one guide channel and cam travelling therein, Figure 6 is a side view of the guide rail defining th guide channel of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 of the top part o a lifting mechanism slightly modified and showing a carrier i various positions, and Figures 8 and 9 show a plan view and side view of a alternative means for forming a cam guide channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The vending machine comprises a substantially rectangula sectioned closed cabinet 12 having a base 13, a top 14, a fron 15, a back 16 and sides 17 and 18. The top is at substantiall table-top height for example in the range 750 to 950 millimeters In this example the cabinet has outer dimensions of height 89 millimeters, width 730 millimeters and depth 660 millimeters The front 15 is provided with a display and selection unit 20 fo displaying a range of cans 21 which can be selected to b dispensed from the machine. Below the display unit but still i the top one-third of the machine the front defines a dispense can access area 22 accessible from the exterior of the machin through a hinged flap 23. The machine includes a conventiona coin receiving mechanism 24 and selector vend buttons 25. T front 15 is in the form of a hinged door 26 with a lock 27, whic can be opened by authorised personnel for restocking the machi with cans, and the door incorporates air inlet and outlet grill 28, 29. Located in the cabinet at its base is a cooler unit 3 including refrigeration means of conventional form and a fan 31 Immediately above the cooler unit are a plurality of can stora magazines 32 arranged side by side and each associated with i own lifting mechanism 33. The top of each lifting mechanism connected by an associated dispensing chute 34, located above i magazine 32, to the dispensed can access area 22. A lightweig flap 34B extends from the top into the chute to deter circulati of cold air out of the machine. It is lifted automatically by can rolling down the chure. Each magazine 32 defines a channel of S shape arranged t hold a plurality of cans or bottles 39 on their sides so tha they will roll down the magazine under gravity to a waitin position within the lifting path of the associated liftin mechanism; the can in this waiting position being indicated a 39A. The cooler unit is arranged to circulate cold air fro its back, up through the lifting mechanisms and down through th magazines. The cooler unit walls are insulated and seals ar provided around the edges of the cold part of the cabine particularly around the edges of the door and edges of the coole unit. Each lifting mechanism 33 includes a pair of spaced, bo sectioned, upright supports 35, with forwardly extending sid walls 36, and connected to each other by three spacer bars 37 The supports 35 may, for example, be extruded from aluminium o formed from sheet metal material. Upper and lower rollers 40 41 extend between the supports 35 and are mounted in bearings 42 An endless flexible belt 43, of plastics material, extend between and around the rollers 40, 41. The bearing blocks 42 of the upper crowned roller 40 are adjustable in position b tension members 44 to tension the belt. The belt is provide with seven equally spaced ridges 45 with bores extendin therethrough and carriers 46 are mounted on the belt at th positions of the ridges. Each carrier 46 comprises a pair o side arms 47, spaced apart more widely than the belt (but les widely than the length of a can) and angled slightly away fro one another towards their outer ends 48 which are connected by connecting arm 49. The arms 47 are pivotally located adjacen their inner ends by spigots 50 extending into the ends of th bore in the associated ridge of the belt and these inner end carry outwardly extending cams 51. Each carrier can thus pivo relative to the belt about a horizontal axis coaxial with th bore of the associated belt ridge. The lower roller 41 is connected by pulleys 52, 53 and drive belt 54 to a motor 55. The motor is thus arranged to driv the belt via the lower roller 41, while the upper roller 40 is a idler roller driven by the belt. The motor is connected by disconnectabie plug 56 to a power supply and electronic on an off controls. Alternatively the motor may be mounted adjacen the top of the supports to drive the upper roller, with th tensioning for the belts located to bear on the lower rolle bearing blocks. A vertical guide rail 60 is located in each of th upright supports 35 and formed with a guide channel 61. Durin their upward paths the cams 51 locate in the guide channels 61 as best seen in Figure 5, although this drawing does not show th carriers at their correct spacings. During their downward path on the run of the belt nearest the back of the machine, th carriers 46 hang downwardly from their mounting adjacent the bel surface in a substantially vertical orientation. At the start o their upward path, on the run of belt facing the front of th machine, the cams 51 engage in the guide channels 61 and caus the carriers to assume a substantially horizontal dispositio projecting forwardly from the belt but with the outer end slightly higher than the inner ends. As seen in this positio the carriers are tipped upwardly from the horizontal to make a angle of 85° with the upward vertical (preferably in the rang 82° to 87°) . As a carrier passes through the waiting position i will contact the can 39A in that position and that can will the be lifted up to move with the carrier; the slight upward tilt o the carrier retains the can thereon and in contact with the fro of the guide rails. The next can in the magazine will then rol down to the waiting position. As a carrier approaches the top the lifting mechanism, the guide channel widens and changes t orientation of the cams and thus the carrier, so that the upp surface of the carrier makes an angle of 97 with the vertical and such that it is tilted slightly downwards with its outer e lower than its inner end, and a can thereon rolls down t carrier on to the dispensing chute 34 and to the dispensed c area 23. The guide rails and cams are made of a low fricti plastics material such as polyethylene. The cans slide again the low friction material of the guide rails during their upwa paths on the lifting mechanisms. After the carrier with a can thereon reaches th dispensing position at which the carrier tips and dispenses th can to the dispensing chute, the following can contacts a switc 62 which acrs to switch off the motor. The switch may be contact switch or a proximity detector for example. Th selected motor is again operated for incremental movement b insertion of a coin and operation of a select button, i conventional manner. The shape and dimensions of the guide rails and cams ar shown in Figures 5 and 6. As shown each cam has a dimension i the direction of the vertical during its upward travel which i greater than its width dimension and has one substantially fla side 63 and a curved top 64 and other side 65 so that it is wide at the top than the bottom. The main length of the guide channe has a width substantially the same as the width of the cam at it major width dimension so that the flat side 63 of the ca contacts one wall 66 of the guide channel and the other side o the cam has minimum area of contact with the other wall 67 of th guide channel. The cam is thus held at a position in which i cannot tip as it travels up the guide channel and in thi position the carrier is maintained at the required 85 orientation relative to the vertical. The guide channel is ope at its top and bottom to allow the carrier to enter and leave th guide channel with the edges defining the entrance 68 and exit 6 radiused as shown. Adjacent the top of the channel it widens a 70 (from about 5mm to about 8 mm) thus allowing the cam to ti and give the required 97° (preferably in the range 94° to 100° orientation of the carrier. The guide channel at the opposit side will be of the opposite hand to that shown in Figure 5. Several alternative constructions will now be describe which do not affect the basic operation of the vending machine As seen in Figure 8 and 9 the upright supports 35 are C sectione rather than box sectioned over the majority of their lengths an are constructed from sheet metal to themselves define the guid channels 61A of similar shape to channels 61. The channel 61 seen in Figures 8 and 9 is formed between metal strips 61B an 61C and at the top between strip 61C and the top of a plastic material strip 61D, of low friction material, secured along th SUBSTJTUTE SHEET (RULE 26) front edge of strip 61B. The plastics material strips 61D wil be contacted by the cans as they are being lifted by th carriers. The carriers 46, instead of being mounted in ridges 45 o the belt, are pivotally mounted in brackets secured to the belt for example by rivets, at spaced intervals. As seen in Figure 7, the motor 55 may be mounted at th top of the supports 35 and this drawing shows the movement o the carriers as they travel over the top of the roller 40 Initially a carrier drops below the 97 angle under gravitationa force as its cams clear the guide channels 61. The cams the contact the roller 40 so that the carrier as seen at 46A i substantially horizontal at the top of its path. In thi position the carrier does not extend substantially above it mounting. This ensures that the lifting mechanism need no extend upwardly much beyond the position at which it dispenses can to the shute. The carrier at 46B then passes between th motor and belt in a substantially vertical disposition adjacen the belt and extending upwardly from its pivotal mounting When the carrier at 46C has cleared the motor it flips throug 180° to be suspended substantially vertically adjacent the bel and below its mounting. A bar 75 between the supports 3 contacts the cams on their downward movement to ensure that th carriers do flip through this 180°. At the bottom of its pat the cams of the carrier contact the roller 41 which helps to tur the carrier to the position where the cams enter the bottom o the guide channel 61. The lifting mechanisms, magazines and cooler unit ar mounted on a base on a slideway 71 and the arrangement is suc that with the front door opened these mechanisms can be slid ou of the then open front of the cabinet to provide access fo maintenance. Each of the lifting mechanisms with its motor ca be disconnected electrically and then pulled out from its suppo 72, lifted out and a new unit plugged in. The electrical a control units are preferably also mounted to slide out with t other units. All maintenance can thus be done from the front. A unit for vending hot drinks may be located on the t of the cabinet. The vending mechanism may be incorporated i the hot drinks unit with an electrical connection to the col drinks unit described herein.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A vending machine for holding and dispensing products such as cans and bottles (39) comprising a cabinet (12) definin a dispensed product access area (22) accessible from the exterio of the cabinet, one or more lifting mechanisms (33) located i the cabinet, one or more product holding magazines (32) locate in the cabinet and arranged to supply individual products unde gravitational force to the lifting mechanism(s), characterised i that the or each lifting mechanism is arranged to lift product from adjacent the base of the magazine to a position above th magazine from where individual products are dispensed to th dispensed product access area. 2. A machine according to Claim 1 characterised in that th or each lifting mechanism (33) is adjacent the back (16) of th cabinet, the dispensed product access area (22) is at the fron (15) of the cabinet and a dispensing chute (34) extends betwee the top of the lifting mechanism to the dispensed product acces area, above the magazine (5), along which chute products can rol under gravitational force. 3. A machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterise in that the cabinet has a top (14) at table top height and th access area is in the top third of the height of the cabinet. 4. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which th or each lifting mechanism comprises a continuous flexible bel (43) mounted between a pair of rollers (40, 41) locate substantially one above the other and characterised by plurality of carriers (46) pivotally mounted on the belt a spaced positions therealong. 5. A machine according to Claim 4 characterised in that th carriers, during the downward movement of the belt on which the are mounted, are arranged to assume a substantially vertica position alongside the belt, initially extending upwardly fro their pivotal mounting and during said downward movement pivotin through substantially 180° so as to hang downwardly from thei pivotal mounting. 6. A machine according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which durin the upward travel of a belt the carriers project outwardly fro the belt, characterised in that in the lower part of their upwar path they are at an angle slightly tipped upwardly from th horizontal, and adjacent the top of their path they are at a angle slightly tipped downwardly from the horizontal. 7. A machine according to Claim 6 characterised in that sai slightly upwardly tipped angle is in the range 82 to 87 to th upward vertical. 8. A machine according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 characterise in that the slightly downwardly tipped angle is in the range 9 to 100° to the upward vertical. 9. A machine according to any of Claims 6 to 8 in which th rollers 40, 41) on which the belt is mounted extend between tw spaced upright support members (35) characterised in that one o each of the support members defines a guide channel (61) and eac carrier includes one or two cam members (51), the or each o which is arranged to be guided during its upward path in one o the guide channels, the or each cam and guide channel serving t locate the carrier at the required orientations. 10. A machine according to Claim 9 characterised in that th cam and or guide channels are made of low friction material. 11. A machine according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 characterise in that the or each guide channel, in the majority of its uprigh path during which the carriers are maintained with said backwar tilt have a width substantially corresponding with the maximu width of the cam therein and at their upper portions (70) th channel widens to allow the carriers to tilt to their slightl downwardly tilted position under gravity. 12. A machine according to any of Claims 4 to 1 characterised in that the carriers, during their movement, at th top of the belt travel assume a substantially horizontal positio in which they do not project substantially above their mountings 13. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to 1 characterised in that the upright surfaces (66, 67) contacted b the cams in their upward paths on a lifting mechanism are made o low friction material. 14. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to 13 including cooler unit (30) in the cabinet. 15. A machine according to Claim 14 in which the cooler uni (30) is located beneath the magazine or magazines and includes fan (31) for circulating cold air from the cooler unit up through the lifting mechanism or mechanisms and down through the magazine area back to the cooler unit. 16. A machine according to Claim 14 or Claim 15 in which the cooler unit is insulated from the cold part of the cabinet containing the magazine(s) and lifting mechanism(s) and the cold part is provided around its edges with seals. 17. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to 16 including a plurality of magazines (32) arranged side by side in the front part of the cabinet, each magazine being associated with its own lifting mechanism (33) located at the back of the cabinet and including an openable front door (26) to the cabinet which can be opened to provide access to the magazines for refilling. 18. A machine according to any of Claims 14 to 17 in which the cooler unit, magazine(s) and lifting mechanism(s) are mounted on a common base so that they can be slid forward out of the open front of the cabinet to an accessible position for maintenance. 19. A machine according to any of Claims 1 to 18 in which the or each lifting mechanism (33) is a plug in unit which can be removed as a whole after disconnecting electrical connections and a new unit plugged in and connected. 20. A lifting mechanism comprising a continuous flexible belt (43) mounted between a pair of rollers (40, 41) one above the other, a plurality of carriers (46) pivotally mounted on the belt at spaced positions therealong and means (51, 61) for controlling the orientation of the carriers relative to the belt during the travel of the belt around the rollers.

Inventors: BETTS DAVID RONALD, HOLLEY ALAN WALTER, BETTS, DAVID, RONALD, HOLLEY, ALAN, WALTER
Applicants: BETTS DAVID RONALD, HOLLEY ALAN WALTER, K E GROUP LTD, BETTS, DAVID, RONALD, HOLLEY, ALAN, WALTER, K.E. GROUP LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G07F11
IPC codes: G07F11